An account of the writing — and reading, and other stuff — in my life by Andrew Cartmel.

Sunday, 3 February 2013

J.G. Farrell: Singapore Grip

I recently posted about a book which I compared unfavourably with J.G.
Farrell’s Singapore Grip.

Now that I’ve finished reading Farrell’s novel, I realise this is
rather an unfair comparison.

Because Singapore Grip is one of the finest books I’ve ever read.

It’s certainly in the top ten, probably in the top two or three.

But to hell with that kind of spectrum-disorder pigeon-holing.

Let’s just say this novel is beautifully written, darkly sardonic
and both hilarious and heartbreaking. With beautiful prose, black humour and
immaculate research Farrell paints a picture of the last days of Singapore
before it was overrun by the Japanese in World War Two.

What is remarkable about the book is that despite being laugh out
loud funny (in the most dark and cynical way) it never loses its tension or
suspense. And the battle sequences crackle with terror and excitement.

The only novel I can think of which remotely compares to it in
this regard is William Eastlake’s forgotten masterpiece Castle Keep, another
highly unusual war story.

J.G. Farrell is a phenomenal writer. The first book I read by him
was The Siege of Krishnapur (which won the Booker Prize in 1973). This
tale of the Indian Mutiny was seriously impressive. It reminded me of a more
satirical and surreal Patrick O’Brian.

But it was nothing compared to the stunning Troubles (winner of the so-called Lost Booker Prize), a story of
Ireland in the throes of insurrection shortly after World War One. Troubles
comes close to Singapore Grip in terms of brilliance and I recommend it without
hesitation.

It also introduces the Major, a character who goes on to feature
prominently in Singapore Grip.

The Siege of Krishnapur, Troubles and Singapore Grip form what is
known as the Empire Trilogy. I urge you to read any or all of them. And if you
go at it in chronological order, you’ll find the books just get better and
better.

As you might have guessed by now, J.G. Farrell is my hero. He even
wrote about cats. Here he is with a couple of them, in a wonderful photo by
Snowdon.

There is a tragic epilogue to all this. Who knows what Farrell
might have achieved if he had continued to write after Singapore Grip? But he
died, drowning in bizarre accident which could have come out of one of his
novels.